Gao Population 2026

Gao has a population of 26,453, making it the #39 biggest city in 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso, located in Centre-Ouest. Roughly 0.1% of Burkina Faso's population lives here. It is about 91× smaller than Ouagadougou, the country's biggest city.

Location of Gao (capital Ouagadougou shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

26,453

Rank in Burkina Faso

#39

Coordinates

11.65°N, 2.18°W

~325 m elevation · Africa/Ouagadougou

Distance to capital (Ouagadougou)

106 km

66 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Centre-Ouest

City	Population	Rank in Burkina Faso
Koudougou	160,239	#3
Léo	51,743	#16
Réo	33,894	#27
Sapouy	26,345	#41
Kokologo	25,958	#43
Tita	16,450	#62
Kindi	16,424	#63
Tô	16,026	#65

Cities near Gao

Tô16,026 people · ~23 km away
Sapouy26,345 people · ~45 km away
Sabou15,060 people · ~47 km away
Tita16,450 people · ~48 km away
Léo51,743 people · ~62 km away
Fara Department20,434 people · ~66 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Gao?

Gao has a population of 26,453 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #39 biggest city in Burkina Faso.

What region is Gao in?

Gao is located in Centre-Ouest, Burkina Faso.

Is Gao the capital of Burkina Faso?

No, the capital of Burkina Faso is Ouagadougou, about 106 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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